Attorney: Reporter caused man to shoot ex-wife

Posted: Thursday, January 20, 2000

The Associated Press

FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. (AP) - An attorney for a man accused of fatally shooting his ex-wife while a TV camera rolled told a jury Wednesday that his client snapped because of a reporter's persistent questioning.

Reemberto Diaz said during opening statements that Emilio Nunez, 40, became angered by the questioning of reporter Ingrid Cruz.

Cruz was preparing a story for the Spanish-language network Telemundo about the suicide of the couple's 15-year-old daughter. Cruz met Nunez at his daughter's grave in 1993.

While Nunez was being interviewed, his 33-year-old ex-wife, Maritza Martin, arrived at the cemetery unexpectedly. Nunez accused her of causing their daughter's suicide, saying Martin slapped the girl after she became pregnant.

When Cruz tried to interview Martin on camera, Nunez pulled a gun, shot Martin in the head and fired 11 more times as she lay on the ground.

Cruz and her cameraman ran for cover but not before he captured much of the shooting on tape.

Diaz said Cruz asked questions designed to get an emotional response from Nunez.

"I guess (Telemundo) got what they wanted," Diaz said.

Telemundo spokesman Ted Guefen criticized Diaz's claim.

"It is irresponsible to suggest that Telemundo or Ingrid Cruz are in any way responsible for this terrible tragedy," Guefen said. "Ingrid Cruz is a good journalist who was pursuing a story."

Cruz testified Wednesday that she was speaking to Martin when Nunez pushed her aside and shot his ex-wife. She cried as the videotape was played.